Erase vs. Delete: What's the Difference?

To remove (something written, for example) by rubbing, wiping, or scraping.

To cancel, strike out, or make impossible to be perceived

To remove (recorded material) from a magnetic tape or other storage medium

To remove from a document or record

To remove recorded material from (a magnetic tape or disk, for example)

To remove (a file, for example) from a hard drive or other storage medium.

To remove all traces of; eliminate or obliterate

To remove, get rid of or erase, especially written or printed material, or data on a computer or other device.

(transitive) to remove markings or information

To defeat or dominate.

(transitive) To obliterate information from (a storage medium), such as to clear or (with magnetic storage) to demagnetize.

To kill or murder.

(transitive) To obliterate (information) from a storage medium, such as to clear or to overwrite.

(computing) A deletion.

To remove a runner from the bases via a double play or pick off play

(recorded entertainment industry) A remainder of a music or video release.

(intransitive) To be erased have markings removed, have information removed, or be cleared of information.

(uncountable) Delete

(transitive) To disregard (a group, an orientation, etc.); to prevent from having an active role in society.

(computing) The delete character (U+007F or %7F).

To kill; assassinate.

To blot out; to erase; to expunge; to dele; to omit.

(computing) The operation of deleting data.

Remove or make invisible;

To rub or scrape out, as letters or characters written, engraved, or painted; to efface; to expunge; to cross out; as, to erase a word or a name.

Wipe out magnetically recorded information

Fig.: To obliterate; to expunge; to blot out; - used of ideas in the mind or memory.

Cut or eliminate;

Remove from memory or existence;

Remove by or as if by rubbing or erasing;

Wipe out magnetically recorded information